Futurama: Looking Backward at Present Day America
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Summary
Matt Groening developed together with his friend and colleague David X. Cohen the TV-Show Futurama, set in New York in the year 3000. Groening describes his ‘vision of the future’ in Futurama as corporate, commercial and confusing which is not what he expects it to be, and it is not necessarily valuing this world as good or bad.<br>Thus, the assumption of this study is that Futurama presents a stereotyped science fiction-world that deals with themes and problems of our present time. This becomes clear when looking at the excessive use of allusions and references to political and historical events as well as to popular and classical culture. The creators comment that way on topics that concern us – or at least should concern us – today. The task of this study is to identify these topics and references (focusing on America as a political entity), and thereby discuss the points of criticism Futurama raises.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
8
The above quotations are taken from an interview and make clear that Matt Groening
intended to employ and serve all clichés of science fiction. At the same time, he
distances his work from science fiction-classics as Star Trek and Star Wars by
painting a different picture of the future: In Star Trek mankind is united in peace;
money and poverty no longer exist. Earth is part of the Federation, a strong alliance
of different races and planets, exploring space, making contact with new species, and
being victorious over evil outside forces that seek neither peace nor friendship. Gene
Roddenberry created a utopia with a perfect human society and maybe he saw a
chance for the world as it is today to develop itself into his vision. Groening
describes his "vision of the future" in Futurama as corporate, commercial, and
confusing, which is not what he expects it to be, and it is not necessarily valuing this
world as good or bad. However, he gives away some of his opinion about the world
as it is today in the same quotation: The military in Futurama "is just as stupid as it
is currently". Here is at least one feature of our present world that is part of
Futurama's 31
st
century. What about the corporate, commercial, and confusing
aspects? Groening once stated that in Futurama everything, not only the military,
proceeds as it does today.
3
Thus, the assumption of this thesis is that Futurama presents a stereotyped
science fiction-world that deals with themes and problems of our present time. This
becomes clear when looking at the excessive use of allusions and references to
political and historical events as well as to popular and classical culture. The creators
comment that way on topics that concern us or at least should concern us today.
The task of this thesis will be to identify these topics and references (focusing on
America as a political entity), and thereby discuss the points of criticism Futurama
raises. Unfortunately, the production of the series was ceased after merely five
seasons (72 episodes in total distributed among only four seasons for the DVD-
collection), but therefore the selection of episodes used for this paper stays on a
concise level.
3
cp. Rauscher
9
1.2 Theoretical Background
1.2.1 Entertainment vs. Education
It is a valid question whether an animated cartoon can be subject to a dissertation or
not. It is important that it consistently comprises of satirical jokes as well as having
the aspiration of teaching its viewers something; it has to make them think. A cartoon
does not necessarily only have to be entertainment, neither requesting critical review
nor treatment. Matt Groening describes Futurama like this:
It's about a pizza delivery boy named Fry who, on New Year's Eve 1999, gets inadvertently
frozen in a cryogenics lab and wakes up 1,000 years later. The themes: If you are a loser, is it
possible to reinvent yourself? How do you deal with the desire for youth, for the return of
dead loved ones, and what does it mean to be finite in the universe? Boy, is this too
pretentious or what?
4
This quote reveals at least one field of knowledge Futurama is concerned with. It
contains many philosophical problems, like the meaning of life, the nature of the
universe, the existence of God, and the significance of religion; the political subjects
dealt with are just as far-reaching. Naturally, Futurama is entertaining, but it also
requires intelligent, literate, and educated viewers in order to be understood
completely. All references to philosophy, politics, and other domains of culture
concern problems that are up-to-date for us, the viewers, as my assumption in the
Introduction supposes.
The idea of projecting problems of the present into the future has its genesis
in Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward 2000-1887
5
. Unlike famous dystopias like
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, George Orwell's 1984, H.G. Wells' Time
Machine, or Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Looking Backward draws a positive
picture of the future in order to encourage his coevals to work towards the society he
depicts. In contrast to that, dystopias use current events, like technological
breakthroughs or political changes, consider a possible development and present a
worst case scenario, which needs to be avoided. In the next two chapters it will be
discussed whether Futurama stands in a dystopian tradition and in how far allusions
to possible literary and other archetypes are important.
4
Kelly
5
cp. Miller
10
1.2.2 From 1984 to the year 3000
In 1939, the New World's Fair in New York attracted millions of visitors who
wanted to see what the world of tomorrow would be like. General Motors presented
their "Futurama" exhibit, showing its visitors a future society without technological
and social problems.
6
In Lesser of Two Evils
(S02E07, chap 2, min 1:45)
7
Fry, Bender, and Leela
visit Pastorama (a past-equivalent to the 1939
Futurama), confirming the origin of the title of the
series. The title itself may sound like a utopia, the
series suggests rather a comparison with dystopian
classics; both have similar claims: dystopias are trying to influence the way we live
in order to prevent dangerous social, scientific, or political developments, while
Futurama besides just entertaining us tries to make us think about the way we
live and the way we have lived.
There are several utopian and anti-utopian
elements in Groening's cartoon: The planet earth of the
year 3000 is ruled by a world government and is
member of the DOOP (Democratic Order of Planets).
Parallels to DOOP could be seen in the Federation in
Star Trek as well as in the United Nations (UN) of our
time (cp. S02E02, chap 2, min 1:48).
As in Fry's case, every earth-citizen is genetically examined by a Fate
Assignment Officer, in order to determine his or her best professional aptitude
(S01E01, chap 2, min 5:00)
8
. This is similar to the profession system in Huxley's
Brave New World, where all citizens are cloned, according to
society's needs of workers, leaders, and scientists and thereby
split up in the -, -, -, and -groups. Leela rejects Fry's
objection that he does not like being a delivery boy which is his
assigned fate by simply referring to the law: "You gotta do what
you gotta do." A poster advertising this slogan shows a worker
6
cp. History Study Aid
7
References to Episodes are sorted after broadcast; the DVD mapping can be found under 4.5.
8
Every reference to Futurama in this paper will be quoted like this: season, episode, DVD-
chapter, running time.
Fig 1 - Pastorama
Fig 2 - DOOP Emblem
Fig 3 - Worker
11
with a sad look on his face enthusiastically holding up his thumb (S01E01, Chap 2,
Min 5:54). Thus, the duty of each citizen is to perform the task assigned to him by
the government and to function as a part of society, just like a part of a machine.
Such elements might be featured in most works concerning future social
developments, but that does not necessarily make Futurama a dystopia. Not only is
Groening familiar with the works of HG. Wells and George Orwell, he also admits to
be influenced by them.
As a kid I saw the 1956 movie version of 1984 on TV. I kept watching this horrible Big
Brother dystopia and waiting for the space patrol to rescue everybody. But the space patrol
never came! I realized then, as disturbing as it was, that there were really fun possibilities
in science fiction.
9
Being asked whether he thinks that the world is getting better or worse, according to
dystopian literature, Groening answered that when "reading 1984 as a kid [he] found
it very creepy and nightmarish. [... But after rereading it, he] was surprised at how
mild it was. Reality has gotten pretty bad"
10
he concluded. In the preface of Seeing
Ear Theatre's radio drama to Huxley's Brave New World, the author, who acts as
narrator for the broadcast, states following.
A quarter of a century has passed since the book was published. In that time, our world has
taken so many steps in the wrong direction that if I were writing today, I would date my story
not 600 years in the future but at the most 200.
11
The realization that reality is getting scarily close to forecasts made in anti-utopian
works, is a criticism of our present day culture.
1.2.3 Allusion and Reference
A lot of talented writers work on the show, half of them Harvard geeks. And, you know,
when you study the semiotics of Through the Looking Glass or watch every episode of Star
Trek, you've got to make it pay off, so you throw a lot of study references into whatever you
do later in life.
Matt Groening
12
We're really writing a show that has some of the most esoteric references on television. I
mean really, really, really, strange, odd, short little moments that very few people get and
understand. We're writing it for adults and intelligent adults at that.
David Mirking
13
9
Kelly
10
ibid.
11
Seeing Ear Theatre
12
Irwin. p. 61
12
Matt Groening once said that "The Simpsons is a show that rewards you for paying
attention."
14
This statement is reaffirmed that repeat viewing of discrete episodes
does not evoke tedium, rather it discloses yet more jokes than previously discovered.
The same applies to Futurama; most of the episodes are full of hidden jokes and
references. It is not only important to pay attention, furthermore, the show is
designed for "intelligent adults" (see above), for well read persons, that is: "If you
have read a few books, you will get more jokes."
15
As already mentioned in the
introduction, Futurama contains many references and allusions to TV-series, books,
and more or less well-known historical and political events and persons. The
significant difference, whether a link to an original outside Futurama is a reference
or an allusion, is made by profound research and knowledge respectively. But what
does that mean for the viewer?
An allusion is an intended reference that calls for associations that go beyond mere
substitution of a referent. An ordinary reference allows us to easily substitute one term or
phrase for another.
16
In the episode That's Lobstertainment, Dr. Zoidberg goes to Hollywood to visit his
uncle, who used to be a famous comedian. Taking a sight-seeing tour, he passes the
30
th
Century Fox-building (S03E08, chap 2, min 4:55). Everybody who watches TV
or goes to the cinema occasionally knows that this is a reference to the real
production-company 20
th
Century Fox.
In Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love, Fry helps Dr. Zoidberg in his
approach towards a female on his home planet. While Zoidberg's main concern is
mating, Fry tries to convert him into a romantic (S02E05, chap 3, min 10:50). Apart
from amusing scenes deriving from this constellation, only the viewer with the
appropriate previous knowledge recognizes the allusion to Edmond Rostand's
Cyrano de Bergerac. Thus, it requires certain knowledge and a certain awareness to
understand Futurama in its whole profundity.
13
Irwin. p. 61
14
ibid.
15
ibid. p. 92
16
ibid. p. 82
13
Leela:
You'll never get elected president. The voters of Earth aren't
the pea-brained idiots they were back in your time.
Nixon:
Oh, no? Well, listen here, missy. Computers may be twice as
fast as they were in 1973, but your average voter is as drunk
and stupid as ever. The only one who's changed is me. I've
become bitter - and let's face it, crazy - over the years, and
once I'm swept into office I'll sell our children's organs to zoos
for meat and I'll go into people's houses at night and wreck up
the
place.
Laughs fiendishly.
Fry:
Well, he lost my vote.
Nixon:
Like one vote ever made a difference.
2 The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave
"Welcome to the world of tomorrow." These are the first words Fry hears as he
awakens in the year 3000; but actually Groening's fictional futuristic world is very
much like our world today. The following subchapters will be concerned with several
aspects of the United States' democratic system, regarding their electoral system, the
office of President and some of its incumbents, as well as some political and
democratic aspects of the U.S. Military. The topics will be introduced and discussed,
while regarding their relevance for our time. The subchapters will mostly concentrate
on one episode mainly which is concerned with the current topic. Although the
relevant episodes are very yielding for their field of analysis, relevant scenes from
other episodes will also be investigated.
2.1 Elections, Parties and Presidents
(S02E03, chap 4, min 18:09)
This quotation gives an insight into Nixon's character as Matt Groening sees him.
Furthermore, it hints towards another important topic of the episode A Head in the
Polls: The importance of registering and voting. While the 2004-presidential election
of the United States had the highest voter participation for decades (around 60%), the
turnout of previous elections was rather weak. The biannual elections for the House
of Representatives achieve an almost equally high voter participation, but only if
they are held together with the elections for president; in the years in between the
presidential elections the turnout is dramatically lower.
14
Voter Participation in Pres idential and Hous e Elections , 1960-1998
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
196
0
196
4
196
8
197
2
197
6
198
0
19
84
198
8
199
2
199
6
Vote for president (average 55,5)
Vote for U.S. House of Representatives (average in off-years: 37,9)
Fig 4 - Voter Participation
A reason for this kind of voting behavior may be found when comparing it to that of
other democratic countries. A Table in Democracy under Pressure shows the voting
turnout of elections for the national legislation in other nations.
Fig 5 - Voting Turnouts
A towering majority of the presented examples surpasses the turnout of US-elections.
Percentages of ninety and more percent stem from compulsory voting and/or
registration (Australia, Belgium, and New Zealand). Some of the governments of
these countries, e.g. Great Britain and Germany, register their voters themselves.
17
Citizens can be preliminary excluded from the process, just like Bender:
17
cp. Cummings. p. 360
15
Fry:
What party do you belong to,
Bender?
Bender: Eh, I'm not allowed to vote.
Fry:
'Cause you're a robot?
Bender:
No. Convicted felon.
(S02E03, chap 2, min 3:37)
Such an exceptional rule does not suffice to explain the low voter participation in the
United States crime rates are not that high. The United States are the only country
where it is the citizen's responsibility to exert oneself for receiving the right to vote.
Cummings and Wise mention a presidential commission that concluded that "the
average American is far more likely to vote if few barriers stand between him and
registration."
18
And indeed, Idaho, for example, that "used roving canvassers to
remind people to register to vote [had a significantly higher voter participation] than
the national average."
19
Thus, the arguably highest hurdle on the citizen's way to the
polling booth seems to be that he himself has to take the initiative.
It is to assume that the percentage of non-voting registered voters is much
lower than that of non-registered citizens. Nevertheless, it still might appear
unnecessary to the individual to take the initiative of registering and voting,
depending on his or her domicile. In the US-American voting-system, the winner
takes all, therefore the votes for the loser of an electoral district are lost and do not
count in the final result. Thus, if a constituency is traditionally Democratic or
Republican, it will be more than unlikely that the competing party will win that
district. This means that the absence of the voters of the underrepresented party does
not influence the outcome of the election at all. It seems that the reason for
America's weak voting-participation lies within the system, which hampers the
citizens to exert their right to vote and leaves millions of votes unvalued. That
problem and Groening's approach to it will be subject of the next subchapter.
18
Cummings. p. 359
19
ibid.
16
Fry:
If I were registered to vote I'd send these clowns a
message by staying home on Election Day and
dressing up like a clown!
Leela:
You're not registered?
Leela:
There's a political debate on. Quick, change the
channel.
Bender: Hey, that's what Fry said when we turned on the
debate.
Leela changes the channel.
Announcer: C-Span Nine presents: The Thrill of Politics.
Bender and Fry start snoring. Leela wakes them up.
Leela:
Look, I know there are no car chases, but this is
important. One of these two men will become
president of the world.
Fry:
What do we care? We live in the United States.
Leela:
The United States is part of the world.
Fry:
Wow, I have been gone a long time.
2.1.1 Disenchantment with Politics: 2 Parties, 1 Vote, No Choice
Futurama takes this topic on by using Fry and Bender as stereotypical consumption-
depraved and politically unenlightened persons. At the beginning of A Head in The
Polls (S02E03, chap 2, min 0:30) the two are sitting in front of the TV, watching The
Scary Door, a skit of mystery TV series like Twilight Zone
20
and Outer Limits.
21
It
reports about the last man on Earth, trying to enjoy solitude by reading books "for all
eternity." Suddenly he breaks his glasses, but consoles himself by turning towards
the large print books. Then his eyes fall out, but fortunately he knows how to read
Braille. Then his arms and head fall off. Fry and Bender discuss the utterly stupid
programme; both shudder and are given the creeps. Bender's analysis of the just seen
("Cursed by his own hubris." S02E03, chap 2, min 1:30) is simply inapt and
excessively profound. Leela joins them and switches to a presidential debate
featuring the candidates, John Jackson and Jack Johnson. Bender and Fry fall asleep
immediately.
(S02E03, chap 2, min 2:32)
Not only are they not very well versed in politics, Fry and Bender do not have the
slightest interest in it.
20
The Twilight Zone (USA), 1985. all movies and TV series referred to in this paper will be
listed like this: director: title (country) year.
21
Outer Limits, (USA), 1994.
17
Prof.:
The problem with both parties is that they
always want to give your tax dollars to the
less fortunate.
Fry:
The less fortunate get all the breaks.
Zoidberg: You know, Fry, you could join a third party,
maybe.
Amy:
Only weirdoes and mutants join third parties.
(S02E03, chap 2, min 2:32)
Fry is not registered. Casually, he mentions that he is not vaccinated either. It is well
known and very obvious that it is careless and irresponsible not to be vaccinated; the
same attributes could be assigned to not-voting. Someone who does not get his
tetanus-shot might think that he will not need it anyway, but if an infection occurs
and he or she has to bear the consequences, the "inconvenience" of going to the
doctor and getting vaccinated seems slight. It is the same with voting: one might
think that a single vote does not make a difference, considering the millions of other
voters, but every each and single vote determines who gets to represent and run a
country. Only the votes of a majority of the citizens can guarantee that lunatic fringes
do not come to power. This is also on the behalf of those who are not going to the
polls. Groening gives the same regard to both voting and vaccination, because both
are equally as important and necessary and should go without saying. Fry gives both
the same disregard, because he is obviously being incapable of being responsible.
In
Futurama, New New York offers its citizens an incentive to register, so the
Planet Express-Crew goes to a "registration fair". A banner over the entrance to the
venue promises: "FIRST 100 CUSTOMERS GET EXTRA VOTE" (S02E03, chap 2,
min 3:14). Fry and the others inspect the assortment of political parties, which are
presenting their political agendas: The Futurama-equivalent of the Democrats are the
Tastycrats, while the the Fingerlicans refer to the Republicans.
(S02E03, chap 2, min 3:17)
This conversation tells the big parties and the third parties apart. Socio-politically,
the two big parties do not differ much (only in their approach); the third parties seem
to offer "real alternatives" to the political agenda of the big parties. Since "only
Fry:
Nope. Not vaccinated, either. Besides, it's not like
one vote ever made a difference.
18
weirdoes and mutants join third parties," it is conjecturable that their political goals
are very special. There are several third parties represented at the "registration fair"
too. Some of them with and some of them without real-life examples:
· The Green Party, represented by green-colored aliens
· One Cell, One Vote, a party of colossal unicellular life forms
· Dudes for the Legalation of Hemp, a party with a single goal
· The NRA, written out in full as the National Ray-Gun Association
· People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans, represented by Martians
· The Brain Slug Party, a party of parasites, manipulating their aboulic human
hosts
· The Voter Apathy Party, a contradiction in terms
Other Parties present are the Rainbow Whigs, the Antisocialists, and the Bull Space
Moose Party. Some of them are merely gags, but the others refer to real parties or
political topics. The discussions, the protagonists have with the party representatives,
reveal some typical voter notions and bear some statements of the Futurama team on
political topics.
· The Green Party is of course referring to the actual Greens, those political
parties which are especially concerned with the environment. Concurrently it
alludes to the Martians, which are representing the party in A Head in The
Polls, and are also referred to as "Little Green Men".
· The One Cell, One Vote Party refers to the slogan of the women's movement
"One Woman, One Vote". This mere reference gag provokes in another
context. It raises the question after its right to exist. Unicellular life-forms
even though they are organized in a party in Futurama are too simple to be
even able to have an opinion, let alone consciousness or apperception. Every
democracy knows the phenomenon of small third parties, which represent
such small factions, that their political influence is almost nonexistent. These
parties are represented in Futurama by such exotics.
There were only two American 3
rd
Parties in the 20
th
century that were quite
successful: Ross Perot with his Reform Party gained 19 percent of the 1992
Presidential Election. This was the highest result a third party ever achieved since
19
Woman: We favor unreasonably huge subsidies to the
Brain Slug Planet.
Fry:
Okay, but what are the brain slugs who control
you going to do for the working man?
Woman: Attach brain slugs to them.
Fry:
Sure, you say that now.
Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party, which received 27 percent of the votes in
1912.
22
The Bull Moose Party is caricatured by the Bull Space Moose Party that is
present at the registration fair. "The party's popular nickname of Bull Moose was
derived from its characteristics of strength and vigor often used by Roosevelt to
describe himself."
23
None of the attributes describing Roosevelt seem to apply to the
Bull Moose sitting in the booth. This reference seems to simply comment on that
uncommon and admittedly funny name for a party.
Prof. Farnsworth informs himself at the NRA-counter (S02E03, chap 2, min
4:18), the contents of this conversation will be attended to under 2.2.2 The Right to
Bear Doomsday Devices.
Brain slugs are small gelatinous alien life-forms, which suck themselves to
human heads and control the brains of their victims. The humans then serve their
parasites by carrying out all orders, even those that harm them. The Brain Slug Party
is represented by a man and a woman, both with Brain Slugs on their heads and
staring into space.
(S02E03, chap 2, min 3:48)
Fry tries to get informed but his mistrust of politicians prevents that he really
understands what they are saying. He assumes empty promises behind political
agendas and is biased against them. Attaching brain slugs to the working man would
actually mean to enslave him. This is more a threat than a promise. Fry does not
grasp that, because he takes everything told by politicians for a lie and does not
really listen. Admittedly, it really occurs that promises are made during campaigns
but not kept in the term of office. Bender and Professor Farnsworth know about such
a case.
22
cp. Boyer. p. 1066
23
Encyclopædia Britannica Online. "Bull Moose."
20
(S02E03, chap 2min 2:42)
In this scene, Groening stresses once more the importance of voting. At the same
time he addresses again the paradox of the single vote, which can make a difference
without really making it. Additionally, he brings up the cliché that elderly people are
obsessed with voting, although they are not too much engaged in society anymore.
However, this scene can also be understood differently: Since wisdom is the virtue of
old age, Professor Farnsworth realized the importance of voting as soon as he was
`wise' enough to do so. The name of the Robot President John Quincy Adding
Machine is a reference to John Quincy Adams, the 6
th
President of the United States.
There is nothing in Adams' biography that indicates any allusion connected with
Adding Machine's name, empty promises, and/or killing spree; apparently, Adams
has been chosen rather randomly as an eponym for this anecdote. But what is
interesting, is Professor Farnsworth's comment on politicians. According to him
politicians break their promises very often.
These examples express deep disappointment and also mistrust towards
politicians. It seems to be the fruit of unsuccessful political commitment and the
realization that it is not always the good and right things that prevail. Yet, it is rather
unlikely that Groening and his co-writers only want to express their frustration.
I want to show that the authorities are not on your side, even though they want you to believe
that [...]. Their rules are not in your interest but on their own behalf. What we are trying to
get across in both series [Futurama and The Simpsons] is: Don't believe everything you're
told.
24
Groening claims to try and raise the viewer's awareness and his ability to think
critically. Firstly, he leads Fry's opinion on voting ad absurdum with the vaccination-
comparison. Then he brings up many prejudices and political clichés. The following
24
Tuncel. p. 157 (retranslated by Christian Schlegel)
Bender:
Ah, yes! John Quincy Adding Machine. He
struck a chord with the voters when he pledged
not to go on a killing spree.
Prof.:
But, like most politicians he promised more
than he could deliver.
Leela:
The point is, one vote can make a difference.
And even though it won't, I'm still taking you
21
subchapters on Richard Nixon and other real US- and fictitious Earth-Presidents will
deepen the insight of which clichés and prejudices Groening uses.
2.1.2 Disliking Nixon: Antipathy beyond Watergate
This chapter will attend to the Person of Richard Nixon,
proposing that a certain attitude towards this very
controversial former US-President reveals a more general
political position of the Futurama team. Nixon is the
celebrity featured most in Futurama. Groening uses New
New York's Head Museum to transfer him alongside
other historical and currently living persons into the year
3000. It is introduced right in the first episode by giving
shelter to Fry and Bender, who are running away from
the police (S01E01, chap 3, min 11:20). This scene
includes an interesting detail: Bender says that they could hide in the Head Museum,
because it is free on Tuesdays and, as a matter of fact, December 31
st
, 2999, is a
Tuesday.
25
Persons like Leonard Nimoy, Dennis Rodman, and Liz Taylor are on
display there, their heads pickled and kept alive in jars. During his flight, Fry abuts
upon the gallery exhibiting all US-Presidents. Nixon has his entry by falling off the
shelf and breaking his jar, whereupon he pounces and sinks his teeth into Fry's
sleeve (S01E01, Chap 3, Min 12:20). He is introduced right away as an unappealing
and aggressive person. There are several aspects correlating with Nixon's
appearances in Futurama:
· There seems to be a clear personal animosity towards Richard Nixon.
· Nixon's political comeback in 3000 illustrates deficiencies of the US-
democracy
· Nixon represents a political entity which upholds freedom but is also
oppressive
· Nixon and his administration are also synonymous for US-foreign policy
25
Perpetual Calendar
Fig 6 - Richard Nixon
22
During his administration, Nixon was quite successful in foreign policies, e.g. the
withdrawal of American troops in Vietnam, the improvement of relations with China,
and his effort for disarmament during the height of the Cold War.
26
Despite all
animosity towards Nixon, there is actually a scene where this is eulogistically
mentioned. Yet, in the audio commentary it is explicitly stressed that this is a
positive remark on Richard Nixon (cp. S02E03, chap 3, min 11:09). Nevertheless,
the 39
th
President of the United States will always be remembered by the Watergate
Affair; because of Watergate, Nixon was the first US-President and still is the only
one so far to resign from office. He was the successor of Lyndon B. Johnson who
had to step in as acting Vice President after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy was a very popular if not the most popular - president and even
Hollywood acknowledged that: The movie Thirteen Days
27
attends to the events of
October 1962, when Russian missiles were installed in Cuba and aimed at the United
States. The movie portrays Kennedy as a very considerate and assertive person while
the world was on the brink of World War III. Oliver Stone tried to get to the bottom
of the murder of JFK in his movie of same name.
28
He shows the impact of
Kennedy's death on the world as well as on the individual in a very empathetic way.
Stone also directed a movie about Nixon
29
, beginning with the Watergate burglary
and illustrating why his presidency ended in disgrace. Dick
30
ridicules Nixon as a
person. His "evil counterparts" are two high-school girls who are visiting the White
House with their class and witness illegal activities. Not realizing what they have
seen, they accept Nixon's offer to take his beloved dog Checkers for walks, which is
only a means of distraction. The President is fooled by two featherbrained teens and
makes a fool of himself. There is no sign of respect for Richard M. Nixon; quite the
contrary! The 1980-movie Where the Buffalo Roam
31
is based on the story by Hunter
S. Thompson Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and is set during Nixon's term of
office. The protagonist, journalist Hunter S. Thompson, played by Bill Murray, has
an almost life-size Nixon-doll in his living-room; uttering the president's name
makes his Doberman jump and lock jaws in its crotch. In another scene, Thompson's
friend and lawyer Carl Lazlo, played by Peter Boyle, walks into a restaurant, wearing
26
cp. Boyer, p. 992.
27
Roger Donaldson: Thirteen Days (USA), 2000.
28
Oliver Stone: JFK (USA), 1991.
29
Oliver Stone: Nixon (USA), 1995.
30
Andrew Fleming: Dick (USA), 1999.
31
Art Linson: Where the Buffalo Roam (USA), 1980.
23
a Nixon-mask and waving a tiny U.S. Flag. Being advised by a waitress that he
cannot come in there looking like this, he simply says: "I am the president of the
United States and I can do anything I want." He then moves on into the restaurant,
reciting Nixon and imitating his voice and gestures.
The last example seems to have inspired the ongoing Nixon-bashing in
Futurama and seems to be simultaneously bearing the reason for Groening's
antipathy - of course, there are several writers involved with Futurama, but Groening
is referred to as the brain of the series, for he did not only create it but is also
executive producer. Where the Buffalo Roam simply reflects contemporary reception
of Nixon in counter-cultural movements, like the hippy community.
Nixon provoked the anger of hippies with his dirty tricks, refusal to deal with protesters
peacefully, ordering the spying upon leaders of the antiwar, black power and other counter
cultural movements, as well as the deeds of his cronies.
32
The Episode A Head in the Polls (S02E03)
dwells on Nixon's relation to the hippies. After
acquiring a robotic body and attaching it to his
head, he announces his candidacy for
Presidency of Earth. Nixon then sings a song
with a guitar: "Remember what the dormouse
said, feed your head," and adds: "I'm meeting
you halfway, you stupid hippies" (S02E03, chap
4, min 13:25). The words he sings are the last lines of White Rabbit, a song by
Jefferson Airplane, which was a psychedelic rock band at the heart of the hippy
movement. This rapprochement to the hippy culture is followed by a slightly altered
Nixon-quote; he says "I am not a crook's head" (S02E03, chap 4, min 13:41),
referring to his apology after Watergate when he said: "I am not a crook." Bender,
the robot, sitting in front of the TV and watching the whole scene, replies: "Yes, you
are!" Considering this, makes apparent that the makers of Futurama were at least
sympathizing with the hippy movement Groening himself after all was an
appropriate age then (born Feb, 1954). This motivation produces quite a number of
allusions, references, and side blows to the person of Richard Nixon. Some of them
32
Stone
Fig 7 - Nixon sings
White Rabbit
